Olefins are a troop of biological (carbon) compounds corresponding to paraffin, on the contrary encompass fewer hydrogen atoms and at least one carbon to carbon twofold bond. Auto-ignition of diesel fuels is measured by a parameter down pat as the cetane index; the higher the cetane index, the higher the aspect of the fuel.Diesel Fuel Composition
Olefins exaggeration the temperature at which auto-ignition occurs and adversely induce engine performance. High-quality diesel fuel forasmuch as contains a gigantic proportion of Common paraffins and a relatively low proportion of olefins.
They can be produced by petrochemical refining or manufactured synthetically.
Cetane Index
The air in the cylinders of a diesel engine is highly compressed, raising its temperature to the purpose where the diesel fuel spontaneously ignites, a phenomenon established as auto-ignition.Cetane Improvers
Low cetane index diesel fuels, which include relatively elevated olefin levels, may constitute in need starting in cold weather, smoking from the exhaust and engine noise. Cetane improvers, such as alkyl nitrate, can be added to diesel fuel to improve its performance, but they may not compensate fully for high natural olefin content.